VR Tech Times

Honda ’s V3R prototype - showcased at EICMA 2025 - has already garnered considerable interest with its compact V3 engine paired with an electrically driven supercharger. Multiple fresh patent filings overseas now indicate that the technology is intended for more than just one motorcycle, with Honda exploring its application across a wide range of existing and future models. New patents show e-compressor integration on Gold Wing, Fireblade and NC750 Modular V3 engine architecture could spawn V-twin and V6 derivatives Electric supercharger promises higher performance with improved efficiency Honda expands scope of its e-compressor technology Patent filings reveal plans for multiple motorcycle platforms The newly published patents illustrate the electric compressor being adapted to several engine configurations, including flat-six, parallel-twin, V-twin and inline-four layouts. This suggests Honda views the technology as a modular solution that could be incorporated into different motorc...

Aprilia India has launched the Tuono 457 Special Edition, introducing a range of ergonomic and comfort-focused upgrades over the standard Tuono 457. Priced at Rs 3.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Maharashtra), the Special Edition costs just Rs 2,000 more than the standard model. Adds taller handlebar, revised suspension Available in two Aprilia Tuono 1000R-inspired colour schemes 457cc parallel-twin makes 47.6hp and 43.5Nm Aprilia Tuono 457 Special Edition details The mechanical and electronics package have been carried over from the standard bike Aprilia says the changes to the Special Edition are focused on comfort and daily usability. The updates include a taller handlebar, which should translate to a more upright riding position, and suspension that has been recalibrated with a softer initial stroke and revised compression damping for improved ride quality. The seat now uses high-resilience foam that the manufacturer says offers better damping of road and engine vibrations. An adjustable fr...

GOOD FOR: Refined engines, comfy cabin LOOK OUT FOR: Interior rattles, suspension wear The Maruti Fronx was launched in 2023 as a more stylish and practical alternative to the Baleno hatchback it is based on. Thanks to its attractive design and spacious interior, the Fronx has gone on to be very popular with buyers in its segment. There are plenty of examples now in the used market, which makes it quite enticing. Here’s what you need to know.   Check out used Maruti Suzuki Fronx models. Maruti Fronx powertrains and fuel efficiency CNG, naturally-aspirated and turbo-petrol options The Fronx brought back the 1.0-litre Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine to Maruti’s line-up. This engine was first introduced in the Baleno RS back in 2017, but it was discontinued owing to low demand and the shift to BS6. The Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine puts out 100hp and 148Nm, and is paired with either a 5-speed manual or a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. This makes the Fronx the only Maruti Su...

Classic Legends has comprehensively updated the Yezdi Scrambler for 2026, bringing revised styling, an updated engine, reduced weight and a new electronics package featuring traction control, three riding modes and switchable ABS. After spending some time with it, here's what works in its favour and a couple of reasons it might not be the best option. Reasons to buy the 2026 Yezdi Scrambler Potent low- and mid-range performance The revised 334cc engine, now producing 30hp and 30Nm, is the standout improvement on the new Scrambler. Bottom-end performance is genuinely impressive, and the motorcycle feels smooth and responsive in city traffic, comfortably pulling from as low as 25kph in fourth gear without any fuss. Mid-range performance is equally potent, making this easily the nicest and most refined Yezdi engine yet – even if you do need to work the gearbox a bit more given the short gearing. Improved ride quality Classic Legends has retuned the suspension with revised spring and ...

Tyres may not be the most glamorous topic of discussion in the automotive world, despite arguably being the most important. Most enthusiasts, when talking about the most track-focused supercar, will focus on horsepower and torque figures or incredible downforce, but seldom, if ever, will you find a mention of those black circles doing all the dirty work. The truth, however, is that whether your car has 50hp or 500, it means absolutely nought if it can’t be transmitted to the road. Which is why, if you are serious about extracting the most performance from your car, tyres are the first things you should consider upgrading. Why upgrade from OEM tyres The tyres that manufacturers choose to equip their cars with have to serve several very specific criteria. For one, they have to be as efficient as can be to achieve those ARAI mileage figures that customers swear by. They also need to be quiet and absorbent so you aren’t put off by tyre roar and a harsh ride when you take a test drive. The...

Sitting at the bottom of KTM ’s Adventure range, the 250 Adventure borrows its styling and much of its equipment from its larger siblings while being powered by the same 249cc engine as the 250 Duke . Here are the three things we liked most and two areas where we think it could be better. 3 reasons to buy the KTM 250 Adventure 1. Rich feature list The latest-generation 250 Adventure finally gets the equipment it always deserved. A crisp 5-inch TFT display with Bluetooth connectivity, turn-by-turn navigation, music and call controls brings it up to date, while a bi-directional quickshifter and switchable rear ABS add genuine functionality rather than unnecessary gimmicks. 2. Quick, yet efficient engine The new 249cc single-cylinder engine strikes an impressive balance between performance and economy. It feels smooth and responsive, offers a strong mid-range and top-end, and returned 34kpl in the city and 39kpl on the highway in our tests, giving it a potential range of over 450km on ...

India has a fascination for the “SUV” moniker. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are advertised as SUVs if they have a taller roof than a hatchback or sedan and do not have a third box at the back. Study the SIAM classification, and you see vehicles like Syros , Exter , Fronx and Magnite sitting alongside the likes of Thar , Bolero , Gurkha and Jimny in the “UVC” sub-segment under the B segment.  The Thar and the Fronx are supposed to be “competitors”, but in what way? How can one evaluate the Gurkha versus the Exter? It’s a bit like putting Hulk Hogan and Bruce Lee in the same category for a fight till the end!  It is time that we logically had a new category in the SIAM classification simply called “Crossover”. These are vehicles between a hatch and a true SUV. They are taller than the hatch, but not as tall as the SUV. They have higher ground clearance than the hatch, but not as much as the SUV. They are, as the word is, a cross between a traditional hatch and an SUV. T...

The Hero Xoom 160 is one of the few locally-made scooters available in India with a liquid-cooled engine. Considering that the biggest Xoom is the first product to use this motor, we had no reference point going into our tests. Here’s how the Xoom performed in our instrumented performance tests as verified by our Vbox. Hero Xoom 160 acceleration 0-60kph 5.96s 0-80kph 10.66s 0-100kph 18.62s The Xoom 160 ’s liquid-cooled engine is rated for 14.8hp at 8,000rpm and 14 Nm of torque at 6,250rpm - numbers that are very similar to its only rival at the moment - the Yamaha Aerox 155 . The Xoom’s engine is quick to build power and there’s linear power delivery all across the rev band although the accelerator’s travel could be a little shorter. The numbers the Xoom achieved in our tests are fairly respectable, especially considering that at 142kg, it is one of the heavier scooters on sale today. Hero Xoom 160 roll-on acceleration 20-50kph 3.11s 30-70kph 6.89s 50-80kph 8.29s Roll-on acceleration...

Hero MotoCorp has been quite vocal about the fact that the Xtreme 250R is the fastest machine in its segment. Said segment is rather small with only the KTM 250 Duke in it. To verify whether Hero’s claims about its biggest Xtreme ever are true we tested both bikes back using our VBox and here are the results. Hero Xtreme 250R vs KTM 250 Duke: Acceleration   Hero Xtreme 250R KTM 250 Duke 0-60kph 3.15s 3.44s 0-80kph 5.2s 5.50s 0-100kph 8.22s 8.50s Straight out of the gate, the Xtreme starts building an advantage over the Duke and the gap between the two at any given speed is near the 0.3 second mark. The KTM has long been the king of the quarter-litre sporty segment but the Hero’s stronger low and mid range punch have allowed it to usurp that throne. Also at play here is the fact that the Duke’s engine only really comes alive only post 7,000rpm and below that threshold, its power delivery is quite linear and mellow. Hero Xtreme 250R vs KTM 250 Duke: Roll-on acceleration   H...

We’re in the midst of a brutal summer, with temperatures soaring well past the 40deg mark across much of the country. It is the wrong time of year to be out in the sun, but also the perfect time for our AC torture test. We’ve assembled five midsize SUVs and the objective is simple: to find out which ones can keep their cool when the going gets hot. In preparation for the test, each car is parked under direct sunlight for two hours with its engine switched off and windows rolled up. Sunroof shades are kept closed, but rear window shades are rolled away. The cars are rigged with sophisticated test equipment, which captures reams of data, provided by Zen Microsystems. Five thermocouple sensors read ambient temperature, cabin temperature, vent temperature (it captures how cold the air is), front-seat temperature (measured near the driver’s ear) and rear-seat temperature (measured at the rear centre armrest). Each car was rigged with 5 thermocouple sensors Getting into the cars for the act...

The Alcazar , I’ve come to realise, is stuck in an unenviable position in the Hyundai India line-up. On one side, above it, you have cars like the recently updated Ioniq 5 and recently axed Tucson (RIP), whose main job is brand building. And on the other side is the Creta , which needs little explanation. The SUV that today defines Hyundai now comes in NA petrol, turbo-petrol, diesel, electric and sporty N Line guises. And the Alcazar? It’s mostly relegated to being the ‘three-row version’ of its little brother, forced to walk the thin line between sensible and aspirational. It doesn’t help that its distant relative, the Kia Carens Clavis , came along with even more space. Or that other 3-row SUVs in this segment are larger, with more powerful engines. But as we discovered with our previous long-term Alcazar in 2023 , it’s much more than just the sum of its parts. Big enough to be spacious, yet not enough to be cumbersome in tight spaces. As I’ve discovered in my time driving ar...